Apply for an extension of a residence permit for the purpose of employment with practical professional knowledge

The foreigners authority responsible for the applicant's place of residence

• You have a recognised and valid passport or passport substitute as well as a valid residence permit for the purpose of employment with distinct professional practical knowledge.
• The period of validity of your residence permit will expire in the near future.
• There is no deportation interest against you.
• Your stay does not endanger or impair the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany.
• You have a new employment contract or a new binding job offer with the same or another employer in the IT sector.
• Your salary will continue to reach at least 60 % of the contribution assessment ceiling in the pension insurance. In 2020, 60% corresponds to a gross minimum salary of EUR 4,140 per month or EUR 49,680 per year (limit applies to the whole of Germany).
  The amount of the income threshold is published each year by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Construction and Home Affairs in the Federal Gazette by 31 December of the previous year (see further information).
• You can continue to secure your livelihood and health insurance cover independently without claiming public benefits.
• The approval of the Federal Employment Agency for taking up employment has been obtained or renewed (the approval is usually obtained from the Foreigners' Registration Office). For the approval, your working conditions (especially salary) must be comparable to those of a German employee in the same position.

• Forms: Declaration on the employment relationship (standardized nationwide); you can obtain other forms specific to the authorities from your foreigners authority; these may also be available online
• Online procedure occasionally possible
• Written form required: yes
• Personal appearance required: yes

• Valid passport
• Current residence permit
• Original of your employment contract or a binding job offer with salary details (please use the standardized form Declaration of Employment )
• Current biometric photo
• Current registration certificate
• Proof of your health insurance
• Tenancy agreement

Extension of residence permit:

• for a further stay of up to three months:
  EUR 96
• for a further stay of more than three months:
  EUR 93

Under certain conditions, a fee reduction or fee exemption may be possible.

Note: The residence permit in the form of the electronic residence permit must be reissued for the extension. The fee for reissuing the card body is EUR 67.00.

Fee: 96,00 EUR
Payment in advance: no

Fee: 93,00 EUR
Payment in advance: no

Fee: 67,00 EUR
Payment in advance: no

You must apply for an extension of your residence permit at the foreigners authority responsible for your place of residence. The procedure is as follows:

• Depending on the foreigners authority and your request, it may be possible to apply via the Internet. Find out whether your foreigners authority offers electronic application for a residence permit.
• If you can only apply in person, make an appointment with the immigration office.
  During the appointment, your application will be accepted and your supporting documents checked (bring these with you to the appointment). Your fingerprints will be taken for the renewal of the electronic residence permit (eAT card).
• In the case of an electronic application, the Foreigners' Registration Office will contact you after receiving your application to arrange an appointment at the Foreigners' Registration Office. During the appointment, your documents will be checked (bring them with you to the appointment) and your fingerprints will be taken for the renewal of the electronic residence permit (eAT card).
• If your application is approved, the Foreigners' Registration Office will arrange for the eAT card to be issued.
• After about six to eight weeks, you can collect the eAT card from the immigration office.
• The eAT card must always be collected in person.
• Fees are charged for the extension of the residence permit. The time and form of payment vary depending on the authority.

• The extension should be applied for at least eight weeks before the expiry of your valid residence permit.
• In the event of an extension, the new residence permit will be issued again for a limited period of time. The validity depends on the period of validity of your employment contract and the approval of the Federal Employment Agency.

about six to eight weeks

• Information on the residence of skilled workers without vocational training or academic training, including IT specialists without formal qualifications, on the website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (german): https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Arbeit/FachkraefteOhneAusbildung/fachkraefte-ohne-ausbildung-node.html
• Information on the residence of skilled workers without vocational training or academic training, including IT specialists without formal qualifications, on the website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees:
  https://www.bamf.de/EN/Themen/MigrationAufenthalt/ZuwandererDrittstaaten/Arbeit/FachkraefteOhneAusbildung/fachkraefte-ohne-ausbildung-node.html
• This will take you to the annual announcements of the Federal Ministry of the Interior on the minimum salary required for the residence permit for IT specialists without formal qualifications: Open the website of the Federal Gazette and enter the words "Announcement on § 6 of the Employment Ordinance" in the search mask there.
• You can also get free advice on the topics of entry, residence and work from the "Hotline Working and Living in Germany" from the Federal Government's portal for skilled workers from abroad.
  Phone: 030 1815-1111
  Service hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• § 8 Abs. 1 i.V.m. § 19c Abs. 2 AufenthG
• § 19c Absatz 2 Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG)
• § 42 Absatz 1 Nummer 2 Aufenthaltsgesetz (AufenthG)
• § 6 Beschäftigungsverordnung (BeschV)

• A complaint can be lodged with the competent administrative court against a negative decision by the immigration authority.

• There is no preliminary procedure (objection) in Lower Saxony.

Detailed information can be found in the negative decision.